diff --git a/src/compositor/compositor.c b/src/compositor/compositor.c
index d4b6d14c3..32e1aae1a 100644
--- a/src/compositor/compositor.c
+++ b/src/compositor/compositor.c
@@ -607,6 +607,7 @@ meta_compositor_add_window (MetaCompositor    *compositor,
 
   window_actor = g_object_new (window_actor_type,
                                "meta-window", window,
+                               "show-on-set-parent", FALSE,
                                NULL);
 
   if (window->layer == META_LAYER_OVERRIDE_REDIRECT)